Pride Superstar ready for performers

EntertainmentEntertainment

Updated 7:22 pm, Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Pride Superstar gives is a chance for local singers to showcase their talent.

Pride Superstar gives is a chance for local singers to showcase their talent.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

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Singers should be prepared for a rowdy audience.

Singers should be prepared for a rowdy audience.

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

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Supporters crowd around winner Juliana Wathen upon the conclusion of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle )

Supporters crowd around winner Juliana Wathen upon the conclusion of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

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Four finalist Morena Roas, Joe Laredo, Wendy Wathen, Juliana Wathen stand together to learn who the winner of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle ) less

Four finalist Morena Roas, Joe Laredo, Wendy Wathen, Juliana Wathen stand together to learn who the winner of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( ... more

Photo: Mayra Beltran, Staff

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(center) Wendy Taylor competes for the title of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle )

(center) Wendy Taylor competes for the title of the Seventh Annual Pride Superstar Finale at South Beach on Thursday, June 27, 2013, in Houston. ( Mayra Beltran / Houston Chronicle )

Morena Roas photographed in the Houston Chronicle studio, Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2013, in Houston. Roas is starting to make waves by aggressively pushing her sound and image to anyone who will pay attention. The ... more

Singing with pride is all well and good. But singing for Pride - in Houston, to be exact - has become a fierce competition.

Pride Superstar, now in its eighth year, is a singing competition that leads up to June's Pride Houston celebration. A dozen contestants compete over the course of eight weeks, challenged by theme weeks, judges' critiques and rowdy audiences. The winner gets cash, studio time, a professional website and a spotlight performance at the Pride Festival.

The showcase has grown and moved from Guava Lamp to Meteor and now to South Beach nightclub. Jazz singer Tianna Hall returns as a judge, along with myself, plus a rotating cast of singers and local celebs will fill the third seat. Audience applause helps determine which singer is eliminated each week.

"Pride Superstar has grown tremendously in the past few years," says Pride Houston president Frankie Quijano. "Pride is proud to have this event that has given local talent such a strong showcase. It's unique because it focuses on contestants' ability to truly sing and perform, and it gives them an avenue to perfect their craft and stage presence.

"Nowadays, you can't go to any event, LGBT or straight, and not find one of our former contestants on the lineup."

Indeed, past hopefuls Ashley Hennessy, Lauren Miller, Morena Roas and "American Idol" semifinalist Wendy Taylor have become in-demand entertainers throughout the city. Adore Delano, currently a favorite on "RuPaul's Drag Race," guest judges and performs at the May 8 competition kickoff. (You might remember him as Danny Noriega during the seventh season of "American Idol.")

To help potential superstars prepare, here's a rundown of secrets to stay atop the pack during Saturday's audition and the forthcoming kickoff:

Audition tips

Be prepared: Have at least three songs ready that showcase strong vocals for the a cappella audition. Once the competition begins, pick your songs early. Be on time. Take advantage of soundchecks. Think about staging and outfits. This is not a karaoke contest. Past performers have incorporated set pieces, dancers and costume changes.

Listen to the judges: Every piece of feedback is valuable. If the judges ask you to change things up, crack a smile or practice more frequently - do it. Every note will make you a better performer. And judges' scores ultimately determine who wins the competition.

Win over the crowd: It will be loud and lively. People will be drinking and talking. You have to do something big to make strangers pay attention. That's a lot easier to do if you bring your own fan base. If your friends and family are engaged and enthusiastic, chances are others will be, too. Judges' scores also put two singers in danger of elimination each week, and audience applause decides which one stays in the running. Make them love you from the first week.

Be careful with ballads: No matter how powerful a singer you are, slow songs are always a risk in a club environment. They tend to drag, and crowd noise overwhelms any quiet moments.

Take chances: Yes, familiarity is important in singing competitions. But big risks can have big payoffs. Theme weeks are a chance for you to show versatility and hone your skills as an artist. Every week will be a challenge. But it will only make you a better performer.

Stay connected: Engage fans and friends on your Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. It makes for a more dynamic experience and also helps build a future fanbase. It's also important to network and stay connected with every person you meet through the duration of the contest. They may prove helpful later in your career.

Use the experience: Even if you don't win, the competition can jumpstart your singing career. Some of the most successful local artists to emerge during the past eight years weren't the winners. They're the ones who used it a springboard to the bigger and better.